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Trial attorney Susan B. Ayres of Hill & Associates demanded that local property owner PHL Rental Properties, LLC be held accountable for the injuries suffered by Plaintiff, Rachita Barnes when she slipped and fell on their property. The jury agreed and awarded Ms. Barnes $450,000 for the accident.

Trial Attorney Susan B. Ayres

By holding property owners responsible for accidents like Ms. Barnes’, we make Philadelphia safer for everyone living in rental properties.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB)May 08, 2015

“Property owners and managers have a legal and moral responsibility to maintain their properties and ensure that there is adequate protection against falls on the stairways in their properties. By holding property owners responsible for accidents like Ms. Barnes’, we make Philadelphia safer for everyone living in rental properties.” Said trial attorney Susan B. Ayres after hearing the jury’s verdict on Friday, April 24, 2015.

Ms. Ayres represented Plaintiff, Rachita Barnes after a slip and fall accident caused her to sustain serious injuries. The court record shows that on October 1, 2013 Ms. Barnes was using the interior stairway of building located at 6212 North Hope Street, Philadelphia, PA. The building was owned by defendant, PHL Rental Properties, LLC and maintained by defendant, Johnny Dang. Ms. Barnes testified that on the day in question, she slipped and fell on the stairway, she tore her right quadriceps tendon and suffered a displaced fracture to her left distal fibula. She testified that the right quadriceps tear required surgery, and despite the success of that surgery, the right quadriceps muscle atrophied, causing reduced strength in her right knee.

As a result of the fall, Ms. Barnes testified that her injuries prevent her from wearing certain shoes, and that as a result of the ongoing foot pain she suffers, she is no longer able to high heels. Ms. Barnes will continue to have significant scaring on her right knee and medical testimony supported the assertion that she will never return to her pre-fall state.

According to Ms. Ayres, the Hill & Associates, LLC team took the case to help “Ms. Barnes receive adequate compensation for her injuries and to remind property owners that poorly maintained stairways pose serious public health risks.”

On Friday, April 24, 2015 the jury returned a unanimous verdict, awarding Ms. Barnes $450,000 for her pain and suffering, disfigurement, embarrassment and humiliation, and loss of life’s pleasures. The jury found that defendant PHL Rental Properties, LLC was 100% responsible for Ms. Barnes’ injuries and that defendant Johnny Dang was acting as defendant PHL Rental Properties, LLC’s agent.